Spring seemed to sweep over the entire city of Suzhou in the blink of an eye.

The last traces of winter wind quietly retreated, and warm southern breezes blew in from the sea, making the young ladies of Suzhou wear increasingly light spring garments. In the waterways outside Hundred Fragrances Garden, the calls of boat women selling lotus roots and fish could be heard.

Within Hundred Fragrances Garden, however, winter seemed quite stubborn. Even though it was already the fourth month of spring, lingering traces still wound around the treetops.

Seventh Miss stepped out of Jade Rain Pavilion, gazing at the clear sky and silently exhaling a long breath.

She arranged a gentle smile on her face and slowly walked toward the main courtyard.

Halfway there, she happened to encounter Fifth Miss.

She too had just emerged from Moon Arrival Pavilion, heading to pay respects at the main courtyard.

“Fifth Sister,” Seventh Miss greeted with a smile.

But Fifth Miss’s expression was stiff and cold. After a long while, she only nodded.

Though the two sisters walked shoulder-to-shoulder toward the main courtyard, neither had any excess words to say.

Although Seventh Miss tried hard to appear natural, the difficulty lay in Fifth Miss not cooperating at all.

This bright young woman seemed to have become cynical overnight, showing no one a pleasant face. But toward Seventh Miss especially, she had nothing to say.

Seventh Miss understood her inner turmoil well enough.

But matters had reached this point—Fifth Miss’s opinion of her no longer mattered.

The two entered the main courtyard hall side by side. Before they’d even lifted the curtain, they heard the Grand Madam’s laughter.

Compared to Fifth Miss, the Grand Madam had been thoroughly satisfied this past month.

That the Xu family had managed to engage Prince Minyue as principal matchmaker was already one of her life’s proudest achievements. After all, when Second Miss married, it had only been Imperial Tutor Qin acting as matchmaker. Speaking of it, Fifth Miss’s prestige was even higher.

Though Fifth Miss remained wooden and showed no joy, both the Grand Madam and Nanny Tai were extremely satisfied with Fifth Miss’s composure, repeatedly saying this was the bearing of a great family.

Seventh Miss observed coldly, only feeling that for a biological mother and daughter to reach the state of the Grand Madam and Fifth Miss was truly remarkable.

But that Xu Fengjia had barely left before Prince Minyue came to propose marriage, with the target being precisely Fifth Miss—this aroused some suspicion in her.

She felt even more fortunate: thank goodness she’d retained a thread of clarity at that time and persisted in refusing him. Otherwise today, the embarrassed person would be her instead… Though she couldn’t be completely certain, judging from the timing of Prince Minyue’s visit, perhaps Madam Xu and her only son weren’t of one mind either.

“You’re all here!” Seeing her two daughters arrive together, the Grand Madam hurriedly greeted them with smiles.

She clicked her tongue repeatedly, praising Seventh Miss. “Little Seventh has finally awakened? She dresses more elegantly each day—this is how a young maiden should be!”

Nanny Liang and Nanny Wang immediately echoed like rapid fire. “Isn’t that right? Now she finally has the appearance of a young lady!”

Seventh Miss swallowed a bitter smile and thanked the Grand Madam for the compliment. “I know Mother dotes on Little Seventh and doesn’t want to see her overshadowed by Sixth Sister.”

This led the Grand Madam to praise Sixth Miss, who had arrived earlier. “Look, Little Sixth’s newly made skirt—the pattern is lovely, the cut is new, and this long string of Five Blessings tassels is both auspicious and charming. How did you even think of it!”

Sixth Miss’s face flushed red, looking both shy and delighted in an endearing way. “Mother just teases me and Seventh Sister.”

Fifth Miss rolled her eyes, glanced at Seventh Miss, and revealed undisguised contempt.

“Perhaps hearing news of the selection made Seventh Sister finally know to dress up,” she said with a laugh behind her hand. “Otherwise, even if you begged her, she wouldn’t dress up to show us!”

The atmosphere in the room immediately froze.

The news that the court would hold a selection in Jiangnan to fill the imperial harem was already no secret. The edict had been issued, the selection eunuchs were already on the road, and naturally the Yang family daughters knew of this news.

Sixth Miss remained unaffected—eating and sleeping as usual, not adding any worries.

But when Fifth Miss first heard the news, she’d made a show of sudden realization, staring at Seventh Miss several times in a way that made her quite uncomfortable.

Ever since news of Feng Jin’s success had spread, Fifth Miss seemed to have reverted to years past—guarded toward Seventh Miss with underlying hostility, as if Seventh Miss’s every word and action was deliberately opposing her.

The Grand Madam couldn’t help frowning and glared coldly at Fifth Miss.

“Getting less sensible with age?” She raised her voice. “After eating, return to your room and meditate in silence for half a shichen.”

Sixth Miss glanced at Seventh Miss and began pondering thoughtfully with her head tilted.

Seventh Miss felt somewhat helpless.

The Grand Madam usually doted on Fifth Miss so much—not to mention just a few sour words, even when she’d cut up the clothes Second Madam sent years ago, she hadn’t been punished.

But now, just for speaking rudely, she ordered Fifth Miss to meditate in her room and reflect on herself.

As if the selection matter had an eighty or ninety percent chance of selecting Seventh Miss to enter the palace as some Crown Prince’s consort.

The selection eunuchs hadn’t even reached Suzhou, yet the Grand Madam had already dispatched Nanny Liang and Nanny Yao to run constantly between Little Fragrant Snow and Jade Rain Pavilion, teaching the young ladies to coordinate clothing and jewelry, arrange their makeup… Even Nanny Tai had relaxed her education of Fifth Miss to focus wholeheartedly on Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss’s palace etiquette.

The old woman had spent her entire life in the palace and had developed a sharp eye. Previously, when Fifth Miss wasn’t engaged, she’d been strictest with her, often letting the other two daughters off lightly. Now that Fifth Miss was engaged, she focused on Seventh Miss’s comportment, while still going easy on Sixth Miss with a light touch despite the appearance of strictness.

No one was a fool.

In this moment of distraction, Seventh Miss missed the Grand Madam’s question.

Only when the Grand Madam asked a second time did she suddenly snap back to attention.

“Yes, Nanny Yao already delivered the Baoqing silver jewelry the other day,” she said softly. “The cloud-traced pavilion figures gold hairpin Mother mentioned is among them.”

Sixth Miss also smiled. “The grape hairpin Mother gave me has also been crafted.”

Looking at this pair of daughters as beautiful as flowers and jade, the Grand Madam’s eyes held only satisfaction. “Good, good. I was saying this pavilion figures design is rather heavy—Little Sixth’s temperament can’t carry it. The grape and fruit gold hairpin is too playful—it would be out of place on Little Seventh. This way, each gets what suits her best.”

Fifth Miss pouted and turned her head away without speaking.

The Grand Madam ignored her, only continuing to instruct Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss. “Tomorrow morning, Little Seventh should wear the Wuning silk jacket with a crabapple red skirt, insert this pavilion figures gold hairpin with no other decorations whatsoever, just a pair of bright pearl earrings will suffice. Little Sixth should wear that jade-colored spring-welcoming short jacket with elephant-eye knotwork, tied with a duck-egg blue sweatband…”

The Grand Madam had never before been so concerned about her daughters’ attire.

After fussing over arrangements for half a day and settling both daughters’ clothing and jewelry, she finally smiled. “Rise early and come to the main courtyard for breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll board the boat directly to the traveling palace to pay our respects to Princess Consort Minyue!”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help exchanging a glance with Sixth Miss.

Both knew this so-called “paying respects” was certainly not as simple as it sounded.

#

After paying respects to the Grand Madam, the several girls entered Vermilion Profit Pavilion to study etiquette with Nanny Tai.

At first, Fifth Miss wanted to feign illness to skip lessons, but now that Brothers Min, Da, and Hong had departed for the northwest and Xu Fengjia had returned to the capital, the Grand Madam had freed up her attention and watched her closely. Though aggrieved, she had no choice but to obediently attend etiquette lessons with her sisters.

But she was no longer the focus during class. Instead, it was Seventh Miss—her every movement received Nanny Tai’s focused attention.

This was an extremely composed woman with a face like stagnant water that never showed any fluctuation. Whether happy or angry, even Seventh Miss couldn’t discern. Her light brown eyes seemed like fish eyes, carrying an indescribable deathly air that inspired fear. The three girls were kept thoroughly subdued, unable to stir up even the slightest trouble.

Under her watchful gaze, they repeatedly practiced walking, sitting, eating…

Fortunately, Seventh Miss had always moved gracefully and cautiously. Though Nanny Tai pursued perfection, she could hardly find fault.

Sixth Miss was much more careless. Though only secondary focus, she was put through considerable torment by Nanny Tai.

As soon as class ended, the old woman grabbed her to work overtime on correcting her sitting posture…

The three young ladies filed out of Vermilion Profit Pavilion as if they’d each shed a layer of skin.

But each was exhausted in her own way.

Fifth Miss’s exhaustion made her irritable and restless, as if she had pent-up anger she couldn’t release.

Seventh Miss’s exhaustion left her speechless, showing timidity and contemplation.

Only Sixth Miss wore a tired face but carried no worries.

Seeing Daxue coming to fetch her, the girl hurriedly slipped into the corridor, fearing that staying even a moment longer would give Nanny Tai another chance to criticize her.

Seventh Miss had no choice but to walk back to Jade Rain Pavilion alongside Fifth Miss again.

All along the way, Fifth Miss plucked flowers and tore at willows. Who knows how many newly sprouted flowers and plants were destroyed beneath those delicate jade hands.

She walked while grinding her teeth, as if someone owed her silver and wouldn’t repay it, venting all her anger on the flowers and plants in her palms.

Seventh Miss found it somewhat unbearable to watch and wanted to advise Fifth Miss a few words, but gave up halfway.

She was probably the person Fifth Miss hated most, disliked most, and least wanted to acknowledge right now.

Suddenly, Fifth Miss cried out in pain.

She’d been scratched by a thorn.

Seventh Miss was startled. Seeing Fifth Miss only staring at the wound on her finger, she quickly pulled out her handkerchief to wipe away the blood droplets on those jade fingers.

“How could Fifth Sister be so careless?” she chided gently.

But Fifth Miss’s reaction was quite intense.

She struggled to pull her hand back.

Inadvertently, her finger brushed across Seventh Miss’s cheek, rather like slapping her.

Both of them froze.

Seventh Miss covered her face and looked at Fifth Miss, but couldn’t really be angry.

Fifth Miss’s expression changed several times. After a long while, she twisted her head away and snorted forcefully. “I… I didn’t do it on purpose!”

Her words ultimately carried some guilt and remorse.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but laugh slightly. “Yes, yes, it was unintentional.”

The two couldn’t help but smile at each other.

For this instant, it was as if they’d returned to the past.

The next second, Fifth Miss raised her head again, maintaining her proud demeanor.

After walking a bit further, she couldn’t help but speak.

“Yang Qi, honestly speaking—you haven’t been eyeing the Crown Prince consort position all along, have you?”

Seventh Miss paused and glanced at Fifth Miss.

She couldn’t help but be moved by the pain and confusion displayed on that face, sighing deeply in her heart.

How could she not understand Fifth Miss’s feelings?

She must have spent countless sleepless nights repeatedly concluding that the possibility of hearing from Feng Jin again was extremely remote, only then painfully deciding to agree to the Xu family marriage.

Who knew fate would play such tricks—the marriage had just been settled when news came of Feng Jin’s success on the honor roll.

Though she knew there was absolutely no possibility between them, the pain and resentment in her heart was undoubtedly genuine—where else could she vent this anger except on Seventh Miss?

That said, Seventh Miss had no interest in being Fifth Miss’s punching bag.

“Fifth Sister, do you think I’m that kind of person?” she said with a half-smile. “If you think I am—how would you dare speak to me in such a manner?”

Fifth Miss was immediately choked speechless, staring at Seventh Miss for a long while without words.

But somehow, when the two walked side by side again, the atmosphere actually relaxed.

Only when Moon Arrival Pavilion came into view did Fifth Miss speak again.

“You didn’t even think Cousin was good enough—how could you possibly value a Crown Prince consort position?” Her voice was very soft. “But now you’re trapped—how will you step down from this?”

Despite their cool relationship these past days, the concern in her words was still genuine.

Seventh Miss’s heart warmed, and she couldn’t help but smile.

“Fifth Sister, you’re still inexperienced in worldly matters,” she said softly. “Many times, opportunities… are also something you wait for.”

Fifth Miss turned around and looked Seventh Miss up and down several times.

“But even if you get your wish and don’t become this Crown Prince consort, can this matter really just end like that?”

She raised her hand and meaningfully gestured the number six.

Seventh Miss was immediately speechless.

#

The next day, just as dawn broke, Lixia and Shangyuan pulled Seventh Miss from her bed.

Hot water had been prepared early. After bathing and applying floral dew, changing into the outfit the Grand Madam specified, Seventh Miss was settled before the glass vanity while Qiqiao styled her hair and applied makeup, meticulously drawing eyebrows and painting temples, coloring lips and inserting flowers…

Right at the usual rising time, Nanny Liang arrived at the doorway.

“Is Seventh Miss dressed yet?” Her voice entered before she did. “Madam has already risen and finished washing—she’s just waiting for Seventh Miss to come for breakfast.”

Upon seeing Seventh Miss, her eyes immediately lit up, and she praised with a beaming smile. “Look at how beautifully dressed! Truly graceful and elegant, like a flower bud just emerging from water…”

She personally escorted Seventh Miss toward the main courtyard.

The sky had only just brightened, yet Hundred Fragrances Garden was already bustling with people coming and going—rarely so lively. Fifth Miss was also lavishly dressed, being led out of Moon Arrival Pavilion by Nanny Li. The two exchanged smiles, both feeling somewhat helpless.

After eating breakfast at the main courtyard and touching up their makeup, even the Grand Master came in person to observe. The Grand Madam repeatedly urged her three daughters into warm sedan chairs. They exited through the small dock beside Ten Thousand Flowers Drifting and found several family boats already waiting there. Everyone boarded in succession, traveling through Suzhou city’s large and small waterways as dense as a spider’s web toward Prince Minyue’s traveling palace.

The Governor-General’s residence was naturally in one corner of the city, typically not far from the city’s most prosperous districts. But Prince Yue’s traveling palace was outside the city. This palace had been built recently, completed less than half a year ago. It was specially bestowed by the Emperor because Prince Minyue had merit in guarding Qianqing Palace. According to Seventh Miss’s knowledge, this was the first time anyone had resided there since the palace’s completion. Not only Princess Consort Minyue, but even this peaceful prince himself had used the excuse of missing Suzhou’s romantic atmosphere to come to Suzhou city.

Arriving in Suzhou precisely at the time of the selection—the implications were quite thought-provoking.

One must know that the selection eunuchs’ destination was also Suzhou city, the true administrative center of the three Jiangnan provinces…

Everyone had risen early, and the boat journey was somewhat bumpy. After swaying drowsily for half a shichen, Nanny Liang came in to report: the traveling palace was ahead.

The Grand Madam hurriedly rose to tidy her temples, then pulled Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss before her for careful inspection. Sure enough, everyone felt a slight tremor beneath their feet—the boat had docked.

The Grand Madam had just armed herself with a proper smile when a eunuch’s duck-like voice came from outside the boat.

“Tanhua Feng, please step aside this way…”